Vacuum cleaner



iFe'b. 9, 1937. B. D. GOLDBERGA VACUUM CLEANER Filled July 15, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 9, 1937. A B, D GQLDBERG 2,069,949v

VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 15, 193e v2 sheets-sheet a @la I. v f x Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to vacuum cleaners and has for its object to increase their convenience and salability without increasing the cost or impairing the eiliciency of such a device.

In devices of this class intended to serve either as a blower or as a cleaner, it has been dilcult to construct an airtight valve or shutter to control the discharge oi air in either of two directions from the fan casing Without the expense of a precision tting to stop the flow of air out of the casing in any other than the desired direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple means, opening the suction chamber for access to brush, belt and pulley, without projections on the closure.

According to this invention such air leakage is eliminated by providing the Shutter with radially or normal integral walls which form an o air-tight enclosure without the necessity of having such expensive precision tting to prevent air leakage around the shutter. In doing so, the interior of the fan casing is maintained clear of any screw or bolt heads around which dust and dirt might collect and be blown out when not intended. The exterior of the device is made attractive in appearance and free from slots or any screws on the sides of the casing as have been heretofore suggested.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a fragment of the shutter.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the actuating knob for shifting the shutter and a portion of the ring to which it is attached.

Fig. 6 is a section through-a modied construction of the shutter.

Fig. '7 is a bottom plan View of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

, Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an exploded View of parts of the vacuum cleaner and casing embodying the present invention.

50 Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, as shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a casing |00 for housing a rotating fan |0| driven by a motor housed within 55 thecasing |02. Supply leads |03 carry current to the motor and a switch |04 opens and closes the motor circuit. Beneath the casing |00 is a suction chamber 05 containing the rotating brush |06 located over the suction opening |01 and driven by the belt |09 passing around the 5 pulley |08 on the motor and fan shaft. At the front of the'casing is located an air passage nozzle H0 which extends over the suction chamber. Substantially diametrically opposite to the air discharge nozzle H0 is a second air discharge 10 nozzle or passage Each of these air discharge nozzles or passages is controlled by the shutter ||2 whereby air may be discharged either out of the front nozzle H0, or when that is closed, such air may be discharged rearwardly through 15 the handle H3 to the dust bag H 4 which is removably attached to the supporting handle H3.

The shutter ||2 includes a peripheral portion connecting two radial walls I5 and I6 normal to the shutter and fan axis, which are substano tially integral with the peripheral portion of the shutter and extend inwardly beyond the periphery of the fan |0|. A projection H1 engaged in substantially the plane of onev of the walls H5 constitutes a part of theactuator for angularly 5 shifting the shutter. The casing |00 has an open y slot H8 formed therein as shown in Figs. 2 and 10 and surrounding this slot is a ledge H9 on which the actuating ring |20 may be held.

The ring |20 is provided with a notch |2| to re- 30 ceive lthe projection and the ring also has a projecting portion |22 serving as a handle by means of which the ring and the shutter may be moved together. In the position shown in Fig.

2 the actuating handle |22 and the shutter are 35 in a position such that the air discharge nozzle ||0 is closed whereas the :rear air discharge nozzle is open with the result that air is sucked in through the opening |01 and is thence directed rearwardly into the bag H4. It the ring |20 is 40 shifted angularly to a position such that the projection is substantially contiguous the Aopposite end of the slot H8, then the shutter will be in a position closing the rear air discharge nozzle and opening the front nozzle |10.

A feature of this invention is the provision ofv the ring |20 which is so proportioned as to close the peripheral opening of the slot H8. The slot H8 is closed on top by the ange of the motor Casing.

The wall H5 adjacent the motor is provided with a flange or ridge |23 close to the rotating blades of the fan, such a ridge being customary and well known in this art for the purpose of preventing dust particles getting in between the chamber.

Another washer |23 of similar material is located aroundv the fan shaft and Ywithin a recess provided in the top wall ill, to also provide better sealing-against air leakage. Screws |21 securethebaseilangeofthemotorcasingonto the casing |33 enclosing the fan.

lInstead of having'thetop wall in one part as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 10, a modiiled construction is illimtrated in Fig. 6 in which the integral portion of the wall Mig extends inwardly only a short distance and is then provided with a removable portion |23 supported as shown in Fig, 6 on a stepped ange. Having the cover portion |23 removable permits the fan lli to be inserted through the opening on removal of the cover |23. whereas in Figs. 3, 3 and 10,I for example, the fan |3| is inserted into the shutter through the peripheral opening |33 indicated in Figs. 2 and 10. The removable cover |23 is provided with a projection |31 iltting in a corresponding recess in the wall ||6a so that the removable cover may be angularly adjustable with the shutter. In both embodiments illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6 there is an opening |23 or |23a over the casing opening |24 through which the incoming air passes. The ledge |33 constitutes the support forthe removable cover I 23. In Fig. 6 the parts 'corresponding to thoserecited in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 10, are in'Flg. 6 designated with the same reference numeral with the addition of the letter a.

On the bottom of chamber |33 are closure sections |3| and |34. Section |3| is located on the side where the brush is, and covers part of the opening. Section |34 is' located adjacent the pulley and covers the balance of the suction A lap-under portion |33 of section |3| holds this section closed. Figs 8 and 9 show this construction and illustrate the use of a spring |36 secured to the section |34 and engaging the underside of a ilange in the body portion of the casing for frictionally holding the section |34 in position.

Some of the features of this invention include the provision of the shutter with integral normal or radial plates. 'I'he fan may be inserted from the side or through the top by means of the removable cover |23. The peripheral opening |33 in the shutter is o f such angular extent as to open or close either opening but not open or close both at the same time to the full extent. The shutter is actuated on the left side of the casing so that the device may be held with the right hand grasping the handle ||3 and the left hand used to adjust the shutter and also the stopping and starting of the motor by means of the switch |34. The actuating projection ||1 is substantially opposite the peripheral opening |33. The

peripheral opening ||3 in the casing is closed by a ring. The washers |23 and |23 tendency for air leakage. v

AsshowninFigsllandStheairpassagefrom thel fan through either the front or rear passage ||3 or' are free from dead air spaces into which dust or dirt might collect, the walls of these passages being slightly rounded/as shown in the drawings. This rounding of th entrance to these air passages will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 to occur both in the vertical and the horizontal stop any aecomo fan and the'upper wall lil. The oinll is Y provided with anintake, opening |24 between the suction chamber |33 and the fan. A washer of felt or other appropriate material |23 extends blower, may valso be used as an atomiaer blow powdered or granular material for fumior other; projections on the inside of the fan casingwhich mightbeofanaturetocause dust ordirttocollect,hasbeenofadvnntageinthis invention. The-presence of the projection |31 on the removable cover |23 prevents any tendencyv for the removable cover to slip relative to the shutter, and the absence of any relative movement between .the shutter and the removable cover |23 makes possible a better and moreA air tight joint between them.

The peripheral portion of the shutter ||2 may be soldered or welded tothe walls iii and H3,

or lthese parts may be constructed substantially integral or the connection between them made in such manner as toV preclude air leakage between the casing and shutter in any other convenient manner.

The projection ||1 may be a part ofthe wall il! and where the wall ||3 is stamped out of sheet metal and later soldered or welded to the peripheral wall ||2, the projection ||1 is likewisestamped outatthesametime.

Intheembodimentshowninllig. 10theparts are assembled in the following manner. The fan `is inserted in the peripheral opening |33 of the shutter. 'Ihe shutter with the fan inside is then mounted upon the motor shaft by the clamping action of the integral nut and pulley |33, or the motor shaft may be made splined or non-circular in cross section. The motor casing with attached shutter and ian may then be inserted into the casing |33. Before doing so however, the washer |23 is laid between the wall ||3 and the top of the suction chamber around the opening |24, and the opposite felt washer |23 is put in place inthe recessshowninthe wall III. Alsobefore the motor and shutter have been put in place the ring |23 is preferably mounted on the ledge ii! so that when the projection ||1vextends out of the opening ||3\it may be received within therecesses|2| of thering |23.

` In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 the shutter and its walls may be inserted in the casing4|33 before the fan and motor have been mounted, since here the wall |23 is removable to permit insertion of the fan after the shutter is in place.

Another advantage oi' the present invention is the elimination of any projection extending either longitudinally or laterally beyond the walls of the suction chamber, since it has been found such a projection may catch on the clothing or some other obstacle.

From Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive it will be seen that according to this invention there is no such objectionable projection and the rear portion of the plate |33 is held closed by the plate |34, the plate |34 being adapted to move rearwardly to release or open the plate |33. so that the `plates |33 and |34 are movable in opposite directi to open the suction chamber.

Instead of having the projection ||1 of the shutter engaged in reces |2| or ring and using projection |22 for actuating the shutter, projection ||1 of shutter may be prolonged to pass overthe ring |23 and act as an actuator. IIn this case projection |22 of said ring will not be necessary. The packing strips |25 or |28 might, if desired, be located closer to the periphery oi' the shutter instead of in the positions indicated. When the front discharge opening Ill) is connected with a. liquid spray device, it has been found that at times reduction of the pressure through the nozzle H0 by moving the shutter H2 to partially close the nozzle IIIJ and partially open the opposite nozzle lll, may bc desirable.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner comprising acasing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing land fan for opening one and closing the other oi' said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and also walls on both sides oi.' the fan substantially normal to the fan axis and movable with and forming an air tight connection with the peripheral portion of the shutter to stop any air leakage between the shutter and casing.

2. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a par of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and also walls substantially normal vto the shutter and movable with and forming an air tight connection with the peripheral portion of the shutter to stop the tendency of any air to leak over a curved peripheral edge oi the shutter, Vsaid normal walls extending inwardly of the fan periphery on each side, and the peripheral portion of the shutter being angularly open to allow insertion and removal of the fan within the shutter when the same is removed from the casing.

3. In a. vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a. pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and also walls substantially normal to the shutter and movable with and forming an air tight connection with the peripheral portion of the shutter to stop the tendency of any air to leak over a curved peripheral edge of the shutter adjacent any of said passages, said normal walls extending inwardly and one of them being provided with alremovable portion through which the fan may be inserted and removed from the casing.

4. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a -fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing, an actuator for the shutter extending through a casing wall, said casing being provided with a slot through which said actuator extends, and an arcuate closure foy` said slot on the outside thereof.

5. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan' for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing, an actuator ior the shutter extending through a casing wall, said casing wall being provided with a slot through which said actuator extends, and a ring surrounding said casing and closing said slot said casing outer wall having a groove in which said ring is held.

6. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and tan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing, an actuator for the shutter passing through a side wall of the casing, said casing side wall being provided with a slot through which said actuator extends, and a ring surrounding said casing and closing said slot said casing outer wall having a groove in which said ring is held, a handle projecting outwardly from said ring, and a removable side for said casing constituting a side wall of said groove and holding said ring in place.

'7. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and an inwardly extending wall substantially normal tothe shutter and on each side of said fan integral with said shutter, one of said normal walls being substantially contiguous a permanent closed side of said casing and the other of said walls being adjacent a removable side wall for said casing.

8. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and an inwardly extending wall substantially normal to the shuter on each side of said fan and integral with said shutter, one of said normal walls being substantially contiguous a permanent closed side of said casing and the other of said normal walls being adjacent a removable side wall for said casing, one of the normal walls engaging an actuator for said shutter, said casing being provided with a slot in which said actuator is adapted to be moved.

9. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing, an arcuate closure movable around the outside of said casing for an arcuate slot therein, said arcuate clpsure being connected with said shutter for shifting with the same, and an actuating handle for moving'both the shutter and arcuate closure.

l0. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing,4 a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and an inwardly extending wall substantially normal to the fan axis on each side of said fan integral with said shutter, one of said normal walls being substantially contiguous a permanent closed side of said casing and the other of said normal walls being adjacent a removable side wall for said casing, one of the normal walls extending outwardly i'or a short angular distance to constitute an actuator for said shutter, said casing being provided with a slot in which said actuator is adapted to be moved, said actuator being located substantially opposite the open portion of said shutter.

11. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing, `a ianwithinthecasinmandapair ofairdischarge es from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan for opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casinmva suction chamber below said casing, said suction chamber being formed with a brush space, a motor above the casing. the bottom of said casing beingopentoreceiveairtakeninthroughsaid suction chamber, said shutter having walls substantially normal thereto on each vside of said fan. a washer between said shutter normal wall and casing bottom, a. cover closing said casing on top,

`a shaft extending from said motor through said cover and top normal wail and on which said fan issupported, and a washer adjacent said shaft and between said cover and top normal wall.

l2. yIn a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing. a fan therein, a suction chamber below the fan and through which air is drawn by said fan, an

air discharge nonle extending forwardly from the casing over said nozzle. and 4another air discharge nozzle extending rearwardly from said jcasing and leading to a dust bag. a -crved shutter within the casing for opening either of said nozzles and closing thergther to the discharge of air, a motor and motor casing closing the top of said casing, a ring for actuating said shutter,

-said ring being located on the outside of said casing and resting on'a shoulder formed on the outer casing wall, said ring extending over each of said nozzles. Y

13. In a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing. a fan within the casing, and a pair of air discharge passages from said casing, a curved shutter between said casing and fan fcr opening one and closing the other of said passages, said shutter having a peripheral open portion contiguous the casing and also wallssubstantially normal to the fan axis movable with and forming an air tight connection with the peripheral portion of the shutter to stop the tendency of any air to leak over a curved peripheral edge of the shutter adjacent any of said es, said normal walls extending inwardly of the fan periphery on each' side, and the peripheral portion of the shutter being angularly open to' allow insertion and removal of the fan within the shutter when the same is removed from the casing, a ridge on at least one of said normal walls spaced from the peripheral portions of said shutter and lying subt casing rearwardly for connection to a dustvbag, I a curved shutter between the fan and casing for opening either of said nozzles and closing the other, means for preventing leakage of air around the curved edges of said shutter which includes inwardly extending walls substantially normal to the fan axis on opposite sides of the fan and movable and integral with said shutter, an actuator for the shutter engaged in substantially theplane oftheupperoneof said normal walls, aslotinthecasinginwhichsaidactuatoris movable, aring constructed asa part ofsaid actuator, closing said slot and pasdng above both of said nozzles and a handle on said ring for-angnlnarly shifting said ring. shutter and normal W 8.

l5. In: a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing. afan therein. and angularlyspaced airdischarge nozzles leading from said casing, a curved shutterwithinsaidcasingandaroundtbefanfor vopeningoneandclosingtheothnerofsaifliair dischargenollxles,awallsubstantiallynormal totheshutterextendinginwardlyoneachside ofsaidranandseeuredtotheperipheraledges of said shutter Witha substantillly lil'tiht 00nl nection, an actuator english! with said shutter in substantially the plane of one of said normal walls, the casing being provided with a peripheral slot open on the side of the casing and a removable wall for closing the open side of said slot.V

long longitudinally of the fan axis as the distance walls adapted to srrround a fan, a wall substanl`tially normal to the fan axis below the space for a fan, a suction chamber below said normal wall,

another normal wall above the fan space, an arcuate groove in the upper edge of thecurved wall of the casing between said nozzles, an arcuate shutter having walls substantially normal to the fan axis within the casing for opening one andv closing the other of said nonies. an actuating handle for said shutter extending out of said arcuate groove,'and said slot closed by the second mentioned normal wall.

18. .In a casing for a vacuum cleaner comprising oppositely directed discharge nozzles, curved walls adapted to surround a fan, a wall substantially normal to the fan axis below the space for a Ian, a suction chamber below said nm'mal wall,

. ahother normal wall above the fan space, an

arcuate slot in the curved wall of the casing between said nozzles, a shutter within the casing for opening one and closing the other of sa'id nozzles, said slot being closed on wp bythe second mentioned normal wall. a ledge around saidcasing above said nozzles, and below the top of said arcuate slot, a ring supported on said ledge,

ter for actuating the same, said second mentioned BENJAMIN D.

v and a handle on said ring movable with said shutf 

